Monday, 25 July 2016

Headteacher: We must act together to make sure SATs pain does not happen again

This plea from a primary headteacher appeared on Facebook about 12 hours ago and has received much attention. The Green Party has a long-standing policy in favour of the abolition of SATs and opposition has strengthened amongst parent groups and teachers.

I am a primary head teacher and have
taught in primary schools for the past 26 years. I started teaching when SATs
were first introduced and have never thought they were a good idea but this
year has been a disaster from start to finish. Before I explain why that is I
want to apologise. I want to say sorry to my staff and my children. I am sorry
that I didn’t act sooner, that I wasn’t brave enough to stand up at the start
of the year and say no. We all knew it was going to be bad but I really
couldn’t have imagined it would be this bad.

The year has been chaotic from start to finish. The testing regime being just
one part of that. From the Key Stage 1 SPAG test published on line for several
months without the DfE noticing, to the terrible Year 6 tests which have left
nearly half of our Year 6 pupils being told they are not good enough.

So to those young people moving on to secondary school I say to you well done
for working hard and trying your best. Your school and your teachers have not
failed you – this government has.

Over the past few days I have heard some terrible stories – head teachers sent
home and told not to return, Year 6 teachers blamed for the results and told
they can no longer teach in Year 6 – these are people’s lives, people’s
livelihoods – teachers went in to the profession to make a difference – we have
a system set on destroying them.

To my staff and my children – again I am sorry – you are amazing – each and
every one of you – you are individual, you are unique and no child should ever
have to be tested on a standardised test because you are not standard. No
teacher should be made to feel they have failed when all they have done is work
as hard as they can - often too hard to implement something which shouldn’t
have been implemented.

So now a request to all of you – parents, teachers, head teachers, school
staff. If you agree that these tests are wrong and should go. If you really
believe as I have heard many of you say that this year must be the last year
that we put our children through this then please do not allow the 6 week
holiday to numb your pain. Please remember what this has done to our schools
and our children and please do something – write to anyone and everyone, put
pressure on politicians and let us all together build a campaign to make sure
this doesn’t happen again.

Our children should leave primary
school confident learners who are looking forward to secondary school, keen to
learn and develop their skills but also people who have respect and
understanding for those around them and who will grow in to well-grounded young
people who can contribute positively to our society.

I for one cannot do this again I hope others join me to say enough is enough.
Our children deserve so much more.

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